Combination tie clasp and key holder



3, 1966 R. R. DANSEREAU COMBINATION TIE CLASP AND KEY HOLDER Filed Aug. 5.. 1964.

nm S 2 a 1M7 4 a 1 m m M R United States Patent 3,267,534 COMBINATION TIE CLASP AND KEY HOLDER Raymond B. Dansereau, Warwick, R.I., assignor to Beatrix Jewelry (10., Providence, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Aug. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 387,057 3 Claims. (Cl. 243) The present invention relates to a combination tie clasp and key holder. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tie clasp device that includes a key that is pivotally connected thereto for movement to a position for insertion in a lock.

Tie clasps have the usual function of retaining a tie in place on the wearers shirt. Since the tie clasp is an accessory item, it is necessarily formed in an ornamental manner so as to complement the wearers tie or other accessory articles Worn or carried by the wearer. Because of the nature of construction of tie clasps, these articles have been manufactured heretofore in various shapes and configurations and further have included novelty ideas that add to the ornamentality thereof. Such novelty ideas have included the use of a key in various constructional arrangements, but usually the key is included as an integral part of the clasp and has no movement with respect thereto. In the present invention, a key is pivotally secured to a tie clasp construction and not only forms the exterior portion of the tie clasp to provide an interesting and ornamental eifect, but is further utilized as a key for use in a lock as required by the wearer of the tie clasp.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combination tie clasp and key holder wherein a key is pivotally connected to an elongated bar of the tie clasp, and is movable from a position overlying the bar to an exposed position for insertion into a key lock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key that is normally retained in a positive position on a tie clasp, but that is unlatched from the normal position thereof for pivotal movement to an exposed position for use as required.

Still another object is to provide a combination tie clasp and key holder, wherein a key is pivotally interconnected to an elongated bar and is normally located in positive overlying position with respect to the outer surface of the bar by a lug that is joined to the bar and that is received within 'a groove formed in the key.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawing which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention;

FIG. 1 is a view showing the combination tie clasp and key holder embodied herein as it is mounted in place on a tie of the user.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the combination tie clasp and key holder showing the key in a partially pivoted position after removal from the latched position thereof.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the combination device showing the key in the normal overlying position with respect to the clasp portion of the device; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the device with parts shown in section illustrating the position of the key in the latched position thereof, and further illustrating the manner in which the key is lifted from the latched position for movement to an outer position.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIG. 1, the combination tie clasp and key holder device is generally indicated at and is shown in the position of use when secured in place on a tie 12 and a shirt (not shown) that is worn by the user of the device. Refer- 3,267,534 Patented August 23, 1966 ring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the details of the combination tie clasp and key holder device 10 are illustrated and include a tie clasp generally indicated at 14 and a key generally indicated at 16 that is adapted to be pivotally interconnected to the tie clasp 14 as will hereinafter be described. The tie clasp 14 includes an elongated bar 18 to which a leg 20 of reduced width is joined. Formed on the bar 18 adjacent to the leg 20 is an upstanding lug 21 that defines a latching member as will be described hereinafter. The leg 20 is bent to an inclined position with respect to the elongated bar 18 and is formed with a slot 22 in the end thereof. A jaw 24 is received in the slot 22 and a spring 26 is interconnected between the jaw 24 and the leg 20 and acts to normally bias the jaw 24 into engagement with the underside of the elongated bar 18. The jaw is formed with serrated edges 28 that define an alligator clip, the clip cooperating with the underside of the bar 18 to firmly retain the clasp 14 in place on the shirt of the wearer.

The key 16 is of conventional construction and includes a head 39 to which a shank 32 is integrally joined. Formed in the head 30 is the usual opening 34 while a conventional groove 36 extends longitudinally of the shank 32 and is located on the side of the shank 32 that is located in opposed relation to the outer surface of the bar 18. The shank 32 of the key 16 may be formed in blank form and it is understood that any required combination may be cut therein. As further seen in FIG. 2, a conventional longitudinally extending groove 38 is formed in the outermost surface of the shank 32.

In order to pivotally connect the key 16 to the clasp 14, a rivet or pin 49 is provided and extends through an opening formed in the bar 18 and through the usual opening 34 formed in the head 39 of the key 16. A head 42 is joined to the rivet or pin 40 for securing the pin to the elongated bar 18, while an enlarged setting 44 is joined to the opposite end of the pin 40 for securing the head of the key 16 to the pin 40. A gem 46 is fixed in the setting 44 and adds to the ornamental appearance of the combination device. As shown in FIG. 4, the key 16 is disposed in spaced relation with respect to the bar 18 by a collar 48 that is soldered to the underside of the head 30 of the key 16. In the normal position of the key 16, it is located in overlying relation with respect to the outer surface of the elongated bar 18. In the overlying position and as shown in full lines in FIG. 4, the lug 21 that is formed on the end of the elongated bar 18 is received in latching relation within the longitudinally extending groove 36 of the shank 32. It is seen that the key 16 is positively maintained in the latched position by locating the key in a generally inclined position with respect to the bar 18. This inclined position is obtained by securing the collar 48 to the pin 40 and forming the edge of the collar 48 that engages the head 30 of the key 16 with a biased or inclined configuration. Since the collar 48 is soldered or welded to the underside of the head 30, the key will always be located in inclined relation with respect to the bar 18 when the shank 32 is disposed in the overlying position thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In this positon the lug 21 is positively received within the longitudinally extending groove 36 for latching the shank 32 to the bar 18.

When it is desired to use the key 16 for insertion into a key lock, the shank 32 is lifted upwardly as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 4 to clear the lug 21. The key 16 is then pivotally moved with respect to the elongated bar 18 to expose the shank 32 for insertion into the key lock as required.

As described herein, in the use of the device, the key 16 normally overlies the elongated bar 18 and is positively retained in place by the lug 21 that is received within the groove 36. The combination device 10 in this position may be fixed on a tie 12 and to the shirt of the wearer. If the use of the key 16 is required, the unit is removed from the wearers shirt and tie 12, and the shank 32 is lifted with respect to the bar 18 for rotation of the key 16 to an exposed position. The key 16 may then be inserted into a lock and thereafter returned to the normal overlying position on the bar 18. It is understood that the movement of the key 16 with respect to the bar 18 is accomplished by forming the pin 40, the collar 48 and the opposed heads 42 and 44 of the pin 40 as an integrated unit. Thus when the key -16 is rotated, the pin 40 and the collar 48 will rotate therewith with respect to the bar 18.

It is contemplated that the key 16 may be removed from the assembly on certain occasions as required by the user. For this purpose, a threaded bolt having a head thereon would replace the pin 40 and would extend through the elongated bar 18, the collar 48 and the opening 34 in the head 30 of the key 16. An ornamented threaded cap would removably engage the bolt and would be removed as required to free the key from engagement with the elongated bar 18. In this modified form of the invention, the collar 48 would be secured to the head 30 of the key 16, as previous-1y described, although, on certain occasions the collar 48 may be removed, if required.

Since it is contemplated to remove the key 16 from engagement with the bar '18 when a nut and bolt are employed for securing the key in place on the bar, it is seen that the clasp 14 may be worn by the user apart from the key 16. As so employed, the bar 18 would be exposed and thus a further modification is contemplated, wherein the exposed surface of the bar 18 would be suitably ornamented. Thus the key 16 would constitute the ornamentation for the device when the key and clasp are assembled. But if for any reason the key is removed from the device, the clasp could still be worn since the exterior surface of the bar 18 would be sufiiciently ornamental to warrant the clasp being worn alone.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the' art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept, and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described, except, insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combination tie clasp and key holder device, an elongated bar, a retaining jaw interconnected to one end of said bar and being urged into engagement with the inner surface thereof for securing said combination device on the shirt of the user, a key including a head and a shank and normally overlying the outer surface of said bar to define the exterior of said device, a pivot connection joining the head of said key to an end of said bar, wherein said key is pivotally movable with respect to said bar to a position that exposes said shank for use in a lock, said shank having a longitudinal groove formed therein, and said bar having a lug formed on the end opposite the pivot connection for engaging said groove and for normally retaining said key in overlying relation with respect to said bar, said pivot connection including a collar that is disposed between said head and bar, the end of said collar that engages said head being inclined so as to position said shank in positive engagement with the lug formed on said bar.

2. In a combination tie clasp and key holder device, an elongated bar, means interconnected to said bar for securing said device on the shirt of the user, a key including a head pivotally connected to one end of said bar and a shank normally overlying the outer surface of said bar, means formed on the end of said bar opposite the pivot connection of said head thereto for normally engaging said shank so as to positively retain said key in overlying relation on said bar, a pin projecting through said head and bar for pvotally connecting said head to said bar, and a collar secured to said pin in coaxial relation therewith and being disposed between said head and bar to space said head from said bar, the end of said collar that engages said head being inclined so as to locate said head and shank in inclined relation with respect to said bar 3. In a combination tie clasp and key holder device as set forth in claim 2, said engaging means including a projecting lug joined to the end of said bar that is opposite said pivot connection, said shank having a longitudinally extending groove formed therein into which said lug projects for positively locating said key in overlying relation on said bar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,473,361 11/1923 Tebbetts 243 1,619,582 3/1927 Long 457 2,008,624 7/ 1935 Mix 2449 2,517,500 8/ 1950 McPherson et al 7045 6 2,600,563 6/1952 Michnoff 243 2,737,698 3/1956 Falk 2449 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

D. GRIFFIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A COMBINATION TIE CLASP AND KEY HOLDER DEVICE, AN ELONGATED BAR, A RETAINING JAW INTERCONNECTED TO ONE END OF SAID BAR AND BEING URGED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF FOR SECURING SAID COMBINATION DEVICE ON THE SHIRT OF THE USER, A KEY INCLUDING A HEAD AND A SHANK AND NORMALLY OVERLYING THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID BAR TO DEFINE THE EXTERIOR OF SAID DEVICE, A PIVOT CONNECTION JOINING THE HEAD OF SAID KEY TO AN END OF SAID BAR, WHEREIN SAID KEY IS PIVOTALLY MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID BAR TO A POSITION THAT EXPOSES SAID SHANK FOR USE IN A LOCK, SAID SHANK HAVING A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE FORMED THEREIN, AND SAID BAR HAVING A LUG FORMED ON THE END OPPOSITE THE PIVOT CONNECTION FOR ENGAGING SAID GROOVE AND FOR NORMALLY RETAINING SAID KEY IN OVERLYING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BAR, SAID PIVOT CONNECTION INCLUDING A COLLAR THAT IS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID HEAD AND BAR, THE END OF SAID COLLAR THAT ENGAGES SAID HEAD BEING INCLINED SO AS TO POSITION SAID SHANK IN POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LUG FORMED ON SAID BAR. 